FanPost

Free Agency vs. Draft

After being a bit disenchanted with this year's draft, I decided to look back at the 2009 Superbowl Champion Saints roster and just see how many "starters" were even drafted by us. I definined "starter" pretty loosely, including players who were basically regular contributors like Jenkins, Bushrod, Bell, Hargrove, etc who's starting status could certainly be argued.

Turns out the majority of our impact players are free-agent pick-ups or acquired by trade. The Superbowl team was basically built on a roster of free agents with a couple of Payloo picks sprinkled in. I don't know how this compares to other teams' rosters. Nor, do I know if this is skewed by Payloo only having participated in 4 drafts. Regardless, I thought it was interesting food for thought. The breakdown is after the jump.

OFFENSE

QB - Drew Brees - FA

RB - Pierre Thomas - FA

RB - Reggie Bush - 2006 rd1

RB - Mike Bell - FA

WR - Marques Colston - 2006 rd7

WR - Devery Henderson - not drafted by payloo

WR - Robert Meachem - 2007 rd1

WR - Lance Moore - FA

WR - Courtney Roby - FA

TE - Jeremy Shockey - trade

TE - Dave Thomas - trade

FB - Heath Evans - FA

C - Jonathon Goodwin - FA

G - Jahri Evans - 2006 rd4

G - Carl Nicks - 2008 rd5

T - Jamal Brown - not drafted by payloo

T - Jon Stinchcomb - not drafted by payloo

T - Jermon Bushrod - 2007 rd4

P - Thomas Moorestead - 2009 rd5

K - Garrett Hartley - FA

DEFENSE

DT - Sedrick Ellis - 2008 rd1

DT - Anthony Hargrove - FA

DT - DeMario Pressley - FA

DE - Will Smith - not drafted by payloo

DE - Charles Grant - not drafted by payloo

DE - Bobby McCray - FA

LB - Jon Vilma - FA

LB - Scott Shanle - FA

LB - Scott Fujita - FA

S - Darren Sharper - FA

S - Roman Harper - 2006 rd2

CB - Jabari Greer - FA

CB - Tracy Porter - 2008 rd2

CB - Randall Gay - FA

CB - Malcolm Jenkins - 2009 rd1

Total Number of "Starters": 35

Number of FAs: 17

Number Acquired by Trade: 2

Number Drafted by Saints: 16

Number Drafted by Payloo: 11

Percent by FA/trade: 54%

Percent Drafted: 45%

Percent Drafted by Payloo: 31%

This FanPost was written by a reader and member of Canal Street Chronicles. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CSC and its staff or editors.